UPDATE: Suspect identified, charged with arson and auto theft after SBFD vehicle stolen while on scene
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- UPDATE: The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office have identified the suspect in the Thursday morning theft of a South Bend Fire vehicle and announced formal charges.
The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Ramon Villalba-Huerta of South Bend.
South Bend officers and firefighters responded to the 1800 block of East Carroll Street on Thursday morning for a house fire, during which authorities say Villalba-Huerta stole a fire department truck clearly marked as property of the 102nd Battalion of the South Bend Fire Department and was painted a bright shade of red.
Authorities say Villalba-Huerta is not an employee of the South Bend Fire Department and did not have permission to take the truck parked nearby.
Villalba-Huerta was taken into custody in the 1100 block of East Calvert Street, shortly after driving off, according to authorities.
He was then taken to the South Bend Police Department to be interviewed.
Court documents state Villalba-Huerta was read his Miranda rights and admitted to taking the fire department vehicle and to being responsible for the house fire.
Police say Villalba-Huerta admitted he had set a couch on fire inside the home.
Documents sate the home is Villalba-Huerta's father's property.
The suspect's father told law enforcement Villalba-Huerta did not have permission to be in the house and did not have permission to set the fire.
The was uninhabited at the time of the fire and it was uninsured. Documents state the house appears to be a total loss with the walls and the roof collapsing because of the fire.
Police say a neighboring home sustained significant damage to the side along with water damage, estimated at a cost of $50,000 to $70,000. The family of this house had to be relocated by the Red Cross due to their home no longer being habitable.
Villalba-Huerta is formally charged with Arson, A Level 4 Felony, Arson, A Level 6 Felony, And Auto Theft, A Level 6 Felony.
SBPD
Around 6:45 a.m. South Bend fire crews were on scene of a house fire in the 1800 block of Carroll Street. Shortly after, the South Bend Police Department got information regarding the Battalion Chief's fire vehicle being stolen from the scene.
According to the South Bend Police Department, the 1st Detail Patrol as well as the South Bend Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center were able to locate the stolen fire vehicle in the 1100 block of E. Calvert Street.
An individual was located in the vehicle and taken into custody.
This remains an active and ongoing investigation by the South Bend Police Department’s Property Crimes Unit.
Video of house fire provided Quinton Probst.
Provided by Quinton Probst